Abstract
The desire to maintain nature in cities is getting stronger and stronger, promoted by public authorities and wished by town dwellers who await an improvement of the quality of life in cities. However, urban concentration and infrastructure development are rarely compatible with the acquiring and/or maintaining of green areas. In most cases, the urban fabric creates a fracture in natural areas. Under the impetus of a socioeconomic and political context (Grenelle Environment Forum, National Biodiversity Action Plan...) that is favourable to the return of nature in cities, communities are waiting for solutions which would allow to re-establish a continuity between urban and suburban natural spaces (green and blue belt). These expectations have generated considerations for possible responses, like the redevelopment of abandoned territories (urban wasteland) or the development of green roofs. In parallel to the energy, rainwater management and inhabitant welfare advantages, the TVBio project thus supports two hypotheses: • Roofs and/or terraces (green or not) can constitute favourable environments for the development of a specific urban biodiversity. Cities offer particular living conditions, especially interms of temperatures, droughts, support types... the fauna and flora that develop in cities are thus adapted to urban environmental characteristics. • Green roofs can represent relays in terms of biodiversity and as such address the connectivity issues in the area of nature in the city (green belt).
France